ABSTRACT
Background: The use of electronic media and audio-visual aids for teaching has become increasingly common in medical colleges. This teaching method is considered superior to blackboard and chalk by majority of the students and teachers. But the quality of medical education has not drastically improved in comparison. This study compares the impact of lecture delivery using PowerPoint presentation as opposed to blackboard and chalk in medical students attending pharmacology classes.Methods: This was a cross sectional study done in the second year MBBS students attending pharmacology classes in the Department of Pharmacology at Government Medical College, Thrissur in the year 2017. Students were given lectures on two similar topics, one using PowerPoint presentation and the other using blackboard and chalk by the same teacher. The students were given a post-test after each lecture and marks were analysed using Independent student’s t test. A feedback was also taken from the students regarding the two lecture delivery methods and the data is expressed in percentages.Results: This study was done in 149 medical students who attended pharmacology classes. The students scored significantly higher marks in the post-test when the lecture was taken using black board and chalk (p <0.001). 58% of the students preferred lecture delivery using PowerPoint compared to 38% preferring black board and chalk. 4% of the students considered both methods equally good.Conclusions: Lecture delivery using black board and chalk was found to be more efficacious than power point presentation when the marks of the post-tests were compared. However, majority of the students preferred lecture delivery using power point to blackboard and chalk.
ABSTRACT
Background: Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder affecting the general population. At present the treatment is mainly symptomatic as the pathophysiology is not clear. Abnormal flora especially small bowel bacterial over growth is considered as one of the causes. A short course of ornidazole is compared with placebo to assess its efficacy and tolerability in diarrhoea predominant irritable bowel syndrome.Methods: This was a randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial done in the Departments of Gastroenterology and Pharmacology at Government Medical College, Calicut. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups to receive either ornidazole or Placebo. The baseline symptoms were recorded and graded to get a global symptom score. Patients assigned to ornidazole group received 500mg twice daily orally for 5 days and the control group received identical looking placebo tablets. The patients were reassessed every week for four weeks. The patients subjective global assessment of relief and global symptom score was recorded. Statistical analysis was done using Wilcoxon signed Rank test and Mann Whitney U test.Results: This study was done in twenty patients with a mean age of 30 with comparable baseline characteristics and symptom scores (p=0.969). Ornidazole produced a highly significant reduction in the global symptom score (p<0.001) compared to placebo. It was maintained through the four weeks follow up. No serious adverse effects were reported. Two patients reported burning sensation in the stomach which was self limited.Conclusions: Ornidazole is efficacious than placebo in controlling the symptoms of diarrhoea predominant irritable bowel syndrome and is well tolerated.